Italy’s Center for Studies on New Religions reported Nov. 10 that around half of the 250 priests it surveyed reported a significant rise in church attendance since Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis in March.

“If we project these findings nationally, and if half of the parishes have been touched by the Francis effect, then we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people returning to the churches,” said Massimo Introvigne, the center’s director and a professor at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University.

The findings come as Opinioni, a political polling company, reported Monday that more than four in five Italians had a “positive” or “extremely positive” opinion of the new pope.

In the poll, Opinioni asked for opinions on 21 public figures in Italy — the pope, sports stars, politicians, entertainers, business figures, and others. Respondents were asked to place them in five categories: extremely positive, positive, neutral, negative, extremely negative. Eighty-two percent rated the pope in one of the top two categories, far outdistancing all other public figures.

The latest findings fit into the popular narrative of Francis, who has earned headlines for his humble and popular style and statements. Roman police say that average attendance at papal audiences in St. Peter’s Square are on the rise, and souvenir sellers have been quoted in the local press as saying business has improved since March, despite Italy’s moribund economy.